Intravascular catheter having an expandable incising portion and medication delivery system

Abstract

An intravascular catheter device includes an expandable portion with a plurality of struts operable between a closed position where the expandable portion has a first diameter, and an opened position where the expandable portion has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter. An incising element is provided on and extends from the outward facing surface of a particular one of the struts. A medication delivery tube is associated with the particular one of the struts and the incising element.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An intravascular catheter device comprising:
 an expandable portion comprising a plurality of struts operable between a closed position, wherein the expandable portion has a first diameter, and an opened position, wherein the expandable portion has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter; 
 an incising element provided on and extending from the outward facing surface of a particular one of the struts; and 
 a medication delivery tube associated with the particular one of the struts and the incising element, wherein the medication delivery tube extends along or within the particular one of the struts. 
 
     
     
       2. The intravascular catheter device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the incising element extends parallel with a longitudinal axis of the expandable portion when the expandable portion is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       3. The intravascular catheter device of  claim 2  wherein:
 the incising element comprises a sharpened edge extending along an upper edge of the incising element. 
 
     
     
       4. The intravascular catheter device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the medication delivery tube terminates adjacent to the incising element. 
 
     
     
       5. The intravascular catheter device of  claim 4  wherein:
 the medication delivery tube terminates at a base of the incising element. 
 
     
     
       6. The intravascular catheter device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an internal passageway extending from the medication delivery tube to an outer surface of the incising element. 
 
     
     
       7. The intravascular catheter device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a jet positioned at the particular one of the struts and configured to aerosolize a substance passing through said jet, wherein said jet is fluidly connected to the medication delivery tube. 
 
     
     
       8. The intravascular catheter device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a reservoir configured to accommodate a pharmaceutical agent, wherein said drug delivery tube is in fluid communication with said reservoir; and 
 a pump in fluid communication with the drug delivery tube and configured to deliver a pharmaceutical agent through said medication delivery tube when said pump is operated. 
 
     
     
       9. The intravascular catheter device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a handle assembly; and 
 a flexible catheter tube extending from said handle assembly, wherein said expandable portion is secured to a distal portion of said catheter tube. 
 
     
     
       10. The intravascular catheter device of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a tip member positioned at a distal portion of said expandable portion; and 
 an inner sleeve extending through said expandable portion and connected to said tip member, wherein said inner sleeve is configured for sliding movement such that retraction of said inner sleeve is configured to cause retraction of said tip member, wherein each of said struts are connected to the tip member at a first end thereof and the catheter tube at a second end thereof such that said struts are configured to bow outwardly when said tip member is retracted by way of said inner sleeve. 
 
     
     
       11. The intravascular catheter device of  claim 1  wherein:
 the incising element extends along a proximal portion of the particular one of the struts. 
 
     
     
       12. A method for depositing pharmaceutical agents along a zone of attention within a vascular system, said method comprising the steps of:
 inserting an expandable portion comprising a plurality of struts operable between a closed position where the expandable portion has a first diameter and an opened position where the expandable portion has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter into the vascular system; 
 navigating the expandable portion to a distal portion of the zone of attention; 
 placing the expandable portion in the opened position such that an incising element provided on and extending from the outward facing surface of a particular one of the struts contacts material located within the zone of attention; 
 retracting the expandable portion along at least a portion of the zone of attention; and 
 delivering a pharmaceutical agent though a medication delivery tube associated with the particular one of the struts to the incising element, wherein the medication delivery tube extends along or within the particular one of the struts. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  further comprising the steps of:
 delivering the pharmaceutical agent through at least a portion of the incising element by way of an internal passageway in fluid communication with the medication delivery tube. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  further comprising the steps of:
 aerosolizing the pharmaceutical agent by passing the pharmaceutical agent through a jet associated with the incising element and in fluid communication with the medication delivery tube. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12  wherein:
 the step of delivering a pharmaceutical agent though the medication delivery tube associated with the particular one of the struts to the incising element is performed while the expandable portion is being retracted along the portion of the zone of attention. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12  wherein:
 the incising element extends parallel with a longitudinal axis of the expandable portion when the expandable portion is in the closed position.